Police kill gunman who carjacked a UPS truck and held driver hostage

A gunman who took a UPS driver hostage inside his truck took police and sheriff’s deputies on a chase, shot at officers and was in a standoff in San Jose on Thursday night, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

Photo: Courtesy of Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office

A gunman took a UPS driver hostage inside his truck, led police and sheriff’s deputies on a chase across San Jose, shot at officers and then engaged in a standoff Thursday night that ended with the safe release of the driver and the gunman getting fatally shot by a law enforcement officer.

The pursuit began around 5 p.m. when deputies with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office tried to pull over a black GMC near the Ohlone/Chynoweth Light Rail Station in San Jose, but when one deputy approached the vehicle — later determined to be stolen — a man and woman inside the car drove away from the scene, said Sgt. Reginald Cooks, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.

The pair led deputies to Curtner Avenue and Communications Hill Boulevard, where they ditched the SUV and fled on foot, Cooks said. At some point thereafter, the pair came across a UPS truck with the driver still inside — and they carjacked the vehicle and held the driver hostage.

While deputies continued pursuing the pair in the truck, one of the suspects opened fire on officers with a shotgun. Sheriff’s deputies did not return fire, Cooks said.

No one was injured by the gunfire, but he said at least one of the shots hit a deputy’s patrol car.

Deputies deployed spike strips near Highway 87 and Taylor Street, but the truck continued on its rims after the tires blew out, Cooks said.

The UPS truck finally came to a stop on North First Street near Trimble Road, where a standoff ensued. At one point, the woman emerged from the UPS truck and surrendered to police. At another point, the hostage was allowed to go free.

Dozens of San Jose police cruisers, Santa Clara County sheriff’s cars and California Highway Patrol officers pulled up behind the truck as negotiators tried to make contact with the gunman.

NBC Bay Area was broadcasting live when the gunman ran from the UPS truck and was shot by a law enforcement officer. The gunman could be seen collapsing onto the pavement.

Cooks said the Sheriff’s Office does not know who fired the single shot.

It was immediately unclear if the gunman was holding the shotgun when he was shot, Cooks said.

Cooks said that, in general, “anytime that we discharge a weapon it is not taken lightly,” and that law enforcement’s role was to ensure the safety of the public.

Officials said the suspect — whose identity has not been released pending family notification — shot at deputies during the pursuit.

The woman will likely face a “host of charges” for her involvement in the carjacking and hostage incident, Cooks said. She was not immediately identified by police.

“UPS is grateful that our driver was released and we’re thankful to local police who responded to the situation,” said UPS officials in a statement to The Chronicle. “We are assisting local authorities as we can.”

Chronicle staff writer Tatiana Sanchez contributed to this report.

Update: Hostage is safe and has been rescued. Suspect is still in the vehicle and has shot at deputies during the pursuit. Suspect is armed and dangerous. Please avoid area. pic.twitter.com/IafnucsOAP

Lauren Hernández joined The San Francisco Chronicle in 2018. She covers crime, mayhem and breaking news. Previously, she was a breaking news reporter for the USA TODAY Network’s Statesman Journal in Salem, Oregon. She graduated from San Jose State University in 2015 with a bachelor’s of science in journalism and a minor in philosophy. She is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. She is also a licensed drone pilot through the Federal Aviation Administration.